Housing affordability has declined significantly over the past few decades. Slowly reducing negative gearing and capital gains, and switching to property taxes, could reverse this trend.
Older Australians are not deterred by financial barriers as much as emotional ones, when it comes to downsizing.
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When people do downsize, financial incentives are generally not the big things on their minds. And so most of the budget’s financial incentives will go to those who were going to downsize anyway.
The Turnbull government’s line that supply is the key to affordability finds little support among housing experts.
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Housing experts writing for The Conversation largely agree on the government policies that are causing negative distortions in the market and the wider economy. And supply is not the key concern.
This transit-oriented development in Oakland, California, combines residential housing with easy access to local transport options and amenities.
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A combination of transit-oriented centres, inclusionary zoning and a special rate on land instead of stamp duty could make housing more affordable by cutting congestion, development and travel costs.
NSW treasurer Gladys Berejiklian has handed down a $3.7 billion surplus.
AAP/Paul Miller
NSW’s no-debt budget comes with a declining share of GST, an issue that must be wrangled with the federal government.
Almost one in three older Australians would like to downsize to reduce the demands of maintaining their garden, but many can’t find alternative homes to suit their needs.
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It would be easy to misinterpret a recent comment by federal Treasurer Scott Morrison as meaning that states and territories generate 90% of all revenue collected in Australia. That’s not the case.
There’s more to house prices than supply and demand.
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Gladys Berejiklian’s first budget as NSW Treasurer includes some infrastructure goodies but misses an opportunity to reduce the state’s reliance on property taxes.
Effective housing policy: a rare find.
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Scrapping stamp duty on property transfers altogether would make a meaningful, positive impact on the housing market. But don’t hold your breath; the NSW government is addicted to stamp duty.
The chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, has delivered the financial package he hopes will convince voters to deliver a Conservative majority in May 2015. Here, our team of academic experts responds…